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CRISIS COULD SEND GALLON PRICE TO $8 Mitchell adds his voice to warnings of costs in Putin’s brutal invasion

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell cautioned the price of gasoline could soar as high as $8 a gallon this spring due to expected inflation from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

His comments came after he made a formal statement yesterday saying the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and “led by its President Vladimir Putin is wrong, unlawful, and should end and be reversed”.

“We support the

statements of the Secretary General of the United Nations and we’ve also joined with our CARICOM partners in support of a joint statement on this issue,” Mr Mitchell said at a press conference.

“The Bahamas supports the right of self-determination, the inviolability of territories settled within legally defined borders. The seizure of territories based on tendentious interpretation of history should not be the basis of hegemony over other nations and peoples without their consent.”

SEE PAGE FOUR

TOURISM executives yesterday warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a “serious concern” for The Bahamas’ post-COVID recovery as the sector pushed for further easing of health restrictions.

Kerry Fountain, the Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board’s executive director, told Tribune Business that the situation

reminded him of when the first COVID emergency order was issued almost two years ago as “nobody knew what to expect” at that time.

Suggesting that similar uncertainties surround the Ukraine conflict, particularly over its duration and how widespread fighting may become, he said of the Board’s member hotels: “In some areas we’re above 2019 levels, and in other areas we’re very close.”

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

SEE PAGE NINE

TOP CUSTOMS OFFICIAL ON ADMIN LEAVE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration has initiated a shake-up of the Customs Department that has resulted in its comptroller, Dr Geannine Moss, being placed on administrative leave.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister confirmed multiple personnel changes have occurred among top management.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

WHERE ARE PROMISED NEW HOMES?

UKRAINE CASTS SHADOW ON TOURISM’S RECOVERY

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

DIANE PHILLIPS: SERVING EVERY DISH WITH LOVE

A PROMISE FINALLY DELIVERED CONSTRUCTION under way near the home of Olympian Ramon Miller, who had been left without infrastructure after having been gifted land after winning gold at the 2012 London Olympics, marking the start of the end of a long battle for the sprinter. See PAGE TWO for the full story.

FNM ‘MADE MISTAKES’ IN OFFICE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the Free National Movement last night conceded that mistakes were made during the party’s last term in office but said the FNM needs to dedicate itself to winning the trust of Bahamians if it intends to again ascend to government.

During the second night of the party’s convention, party

KWASI Thompson MP said the country had reached a “defining moment”. officials were adamant that the FNM needed to learn from the missteps of the past.

Speakers also capitalised on the Davis

administration’s decision to add value added tax to breadbasket items and medications, painting a picture of a nation now strained by added financial hardship because items that were zero-rated under the previous Minnis administration were now subject to VAT. The decision has drastically affected the cost of living, which has been compounded by inflation, speakers contended.

SEE PAGE THREE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

THE former administration only partially built five out of more than 50 homes planned for the Central Pines subdivision in Abaco, after homes in the area were wiped out by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday.

Mr Davis said his administration is now removing the responsibility of this project from the Disaster Reconstruction Authority and placing it under the remit of the Ministry of Housing to build the remaining 48 homes.

SEE PAGE FIVE

1.30AM LATEST: RUSSIAN TROOPS NEAR OUTSKIRTS OF CAPITAL IN UKRAINE

SEE PAGE TEN

PAGE 2, Friday, February 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

A promise finally delivered

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

CONES in place for work outside Ramon Miller’s home yesterday.

Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Sraff

FOUR months after Olympic gold medalist Ramon Miller went public with his years-long struggle to attain infrastructure for utilities at his home on government gifted land, he was elated yesterday to see work crews start the ground work in the area.

“Seeing the machines here, it’s really motivating knowing that they’re here and hopefully we could see some resolution to this issue,” Mr Miller told The Tribune.

By going public I was just hoping that one of the authorities would have understood and helped me see the way forward, but now that I went to the press, I am now seeing some light to the situation. So, that’s really a plus.”

Public Works Minister Alfred Sears could not be reached yesterday to provide insight into the work that has started.

However, Mr Miller said he had received a call from the minister earlier stating that work would begin yesterday.

“I did receive a call from Minister Sears. He was really good with communicating and giving assurance that the work would have started Thursday and so said, so done.

“The work has been started and today is

Thursday so that’s the only communication I have gotten so far.”

Work crews along with heavy machinery appeared yesterday to clear down bush and cut a pathway.

“It seems that they are cutting down and making sure everything is level so it looks like the prep work before they start the major work putting in the road and the water and the light and stuff so that when they start the work they won’t have any issues,” Mr Miller said.

Last October, Mr Miller told The Tribune he felt unwanted by his own country following a battle to gain infrastructure for his home that was built on land gifted by the government.

His 2,600 square foot home on a rugged dirt road is perched on a 20,000 sq ft piece of land tucked away in acres of thick vegetation off a paved Tropical Gardens road.

Mr Miller ran the anchor leg for The Bahamas’ 4x400 metre relay team at London in 2012, a race that brought home gold. He was given the property in 2014, when the Christie administration was in office.

Mr Miller said he was elated to receive the sprawling property to build a dream home for his wife and children.

The home was completed in 2018.

Despite following all of

the correct procedures and seeking to have lamp poles for electricity and water infrastructure placed, Mr Miller told The Tribune last year there had been “roadblock after roadblock”.

He said there was no movement despite him writing to former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis for intervention. He said he also spoke to Dr Minnis in person on one occasion and had two in-person meetings with former Prime Minister Perry Christie.

He said he was also in contact with former Works Minister Desmond Bannister.

He also reached out to both the Water and Sewerage Corporation and Bahamas Power and Light to have utilities put in place.

Due to this dilemma, he’s had to have a water well installed and continuously runs a diesel generator at a cost of $250 per week.

It is a sacrifice he said he makes so that his children can do their assignments, and everyone is comfortable.

Dr Minnis had previously told The Tribune that a contract “was approved for infrastructure” to Mr Miller’s area.

In November, about two months after the Davis’ administration was elected, Mr Sears said Mr Miller’s situation would be sorted out sooner rather than later.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 25, 2022, PAGE 3

FNM ‘made mistakes’ in office from page one

Among them East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson said both the party and country had reached a “defining moment”.

Meanwhile, attorney Ramona Farquharson-Seymour said the FNM must find a way to better connect with supporters.

“We must never take our FNMs for granted again,” she said. “We must never allow any one person or select group to operate with impunity.”

For his part, Mr Thompson said there were a number of things that could be done to ease the burden on Bahamians. He said removing VAT on breadbasket items and restoring the VAT rate to 12 percent were among the options.

He also claimed that there were major budget cuts on the horizon in the Davis administration’s impending June budget including $30m to be cut from the Ministry of Education’s budget, along with $10m and $5m from the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s budgets respectively.

“While the election is over, have we learned the lessons from this election?

My mother used to tell me, ‘boy if you don’t listen you will feel,’” Mr Thompson told supporters gathered at Atlantis’ Grand Ballroom.

“We are a family, right? Real talk I don’t know about you but I felt every blow.

“Do you remember where you were when you heard we lost Carmichael, Andros, Abaco, Eleuthera? I want you to remember that feeling and then make up in your mind that I don’t ever want to feel that way ever again.

“FNMs, failure is not final. I will say like Muhammed Ali said: ‘You don’t lose if you get

knocked down, you only lose if you stay down.’

“FNMs what now? What will we do now? We can cry and complain about our past mistakes - and there were mistakes – or we can acknowledge them and learn from them. I am done with blaming and I am done with complaining.”

Regarding the government adding VAT to breadbasket items and medications, Mr Thompson said: “Just last week I was at the food store and was stopped by a lady. She said ‘Mr Thompson do you see these prices?’

“I said yes, they are getting bad. She said ‘I thought they said it was a new day.’ I

SHANENDON Cartwright MP speaking last night.

FNM Leader Michael Pintard dancing last night.

CARLYLE Bethel and FNM supporters enjoying Dyson Knight’s performance.

Photos: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff replied ‘Yes, it is a new day. back,” he said. to the political sidelines to But they didn’t say it was “We cannot sit back and rethink, retool, re-engineer going to be a good day’. expect the people to sup- then reapply.

“Thousands of Bahami- port us just because we “This convention is a conans are asking themselves are red. Those days are versation about the future the same question and gone. We must not just talk of the Commonwealth of beginning to realise the PLP about better but we must The Bahamas and in so had no plan, they were not do better and show them being it is not a conversaready and they are not new.” better.” tion that needs to be limited He also said: “The PLP When he took the stage, to our own ranks nor is told us this was going to be St Barnabas MP Shanendon it a Nassau-centric cona new day but there were Cartwright, who is also vying versation. It requires the some secrets they didn’t for deputy leader of the involvement of all Bahamitell us. They didn’t say a FNM, said the party needed ans from every island, every word about VAT added to retool after its election settlement and execution of to breadbasket items and loss of September 2021. our collective efforts as a medication.”

“In the words of Sir Cecil people.

He also said the party Wallace Whitfield, ‘Democ“So, to Bahamians everymust demonstrate that it racy and truth are hard and where tonight we say to you has the capability to carry demanding taskmasters.’ loudly and clearly, we heard out and deliver.

“So unless we have been you on September 16. The “This requires build- sufficiently admonished and Free National Movement ing trust and respect of the challenged by these words hears you. Our leader people we wish to serve. of Sir Cecil our efforts at Michael Pintard hears you.

We must work our butts off this convention will miss We got the message loud to earn the trust and con- the mark and fail and so and clear. We will respond,” fidence of the Bahamian will the fate of our desires Mr Cartwright said. people again. This is not to recapture the confidence Last night’s event also an entitlement, it must be and the imagination of the brought local talent to earned, quite frankly we Bahamian people at the the stage including artists must work harder than we ballot box.

Wendi, Sweet Emily and have ever worked to get it “We have been sent back Dyson Knight.

Youth Association as well as Meritorious Council Members.

“We’re having a very lively discussion about the way forward for the party, for example, the balance between our more senior members and making sure that they are represented as well as our youth arm,” she told reporters on the sidelines of closed sessions at the Atlantis resort yesterday.

“Because as we increase the amount of senior people in the group and our own council, we also need to make sure that we increase our own participation of our young torchbearers so that’s one of the amendments that we’ve done – that is requiring that there

are more delegates under 30 is probably a better way to describe that.

“One of the things that we’ve also done is increase the number of Meritorious Council numbers. So those are persons who are over 55 and they have been members of the party for over 50 years. We have increased the amount of MCMs right now. The cap is 100 and so we have raised the cap to 200.”

The party has also adjusted rules for members who publicly lend their support to other parties’ candidates.

Currently, members who independently nominate to contest elections or by-elections against a candidate chosen by the party are

deemed to have resigned from the FNM. Yesterday, Mrs Barnett-Ellis said: “One of the amendments that was passed related to members of the party who publicly endorse a candidate for another party. That amendment passed, that if you publicly endorsed a member of another party or a candidate for another party then you’re deemed to have resigned from the party.

“But one of the other important things that was discussed was if you wanted to come back to the FNM, we welcome you with open arms.”

However, according to party sources, tensions were said to have run high as

‘LIVELY’ MEETING SEES AMENDMENTS TO FNM CONSTITUTION

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement delegates passed several amendments to the party’s constitution after a “heated” debate at its convention yesterday, with one amendment posing serious consequences for members who publicly endorse other parties’ candidates.

Senator Michela BarnettEllis, who is a member of the party’s constitutional committee, described yesterday’s meeting as a progressive and lively one.

She also highlighted some amendments that were passed, one of which she said included an increase of ranks in the Torchbearers

members discussed the new rule.

Asked about this yesterday, Mrs Barnett-Ellis replied: “I think whenever you’re discussing the mechanics of an organisation, people are going to get passionate because one thing about FNMs is we love our party and we want so badly for it to succeed and so when you’re having those discussions, people are bound to get passionate.

“I think we had some very healthy discussions because you know often when you’re talking about something, it leads to something else and somebody is able to share their views with relation to that topic and it’s also just cathartic to get those feelings and

finally say in a venue where you have 400 plus delegates say ‘this is how I feel about this’ and ‘this should not be allowed’ and ‘this is wrong’ and so that’s just part of the process.”

The FNM’s convention will wrap up today, during which the party will elect posts ranging from deputy leader to deputy protocol officer.

The party elected a new leader, Michael Pintard, at a one-day convention last November.

During a press conference yesterday, party convention officials said they were pleased with the event’s turn out thus far in view of current circumstances. They also said election results should be released by 4pm at the latest today.

TWO KILLED IN SEPARATE SHOOTINGS A MAN is dead after he was shot while walking on Blue Hill Road last night.

Superintendent Audley Peters said police were called to the scene of a shooting incident that occurred on Blue Hill Road, south of Cowpen Road, around 7pm.

Responding officers found a man’s body lying on the western side of the street. He was unresponsive and appeared to have been shot.

The initial investigation has revealed that a man was walking along the street when the occupant/s of a small Japanese-model vehicle approached him.

A man with a handgun got out of the car and fired shots at the victim, Supt Peters said.

EMS pronounced him dead at the scene. The victim’s identity was not released up to press time.

A second man was also shot dead last night.

After 11pm, police said they were on the scene of a second homicide which occurred on Pond Court in the community of Black Village. Although there were few details up to press time, police said two men were shot, however one died at the scene.

Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call police at 502-9991, the nearest police station, or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.

DATES FOR ROYAL VISIT REVEALED THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit The Bahamas from March 24-26 as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Cabinet Office announced last night.

However, no further details about the occasion were given, with a brief statement from officials saying more information on this “historic milestone” will be released at a later date.

According to international reports, Prince William and his wife Catherine will also visit Jamaica and Belize in what will be their first major overseas tour since before the pandemic.

The Daily Telegraph, a United Kingdom-based newspaper, recently reported the Royal couple will be in the region for about 12 days.

This newspaper understands that representatives of the monarch were recently in The Bahamas to discuss the planned visit.

The Tribune previously reported that the couple

will reportedly visit Coral Vita, a coral farm in Grand Bahama focused on reef restoration that was named one of the five $1m winners of the Duke’s inaugural Earthshot prize last year.

Prince William’s brother, Prince Harry, visited The Bahamas, Belize and

Jamaica in 2012 during a royal tour for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

A release from Buckingham Palace said their Royal Highnesses are very much looking forward to the visit which will be their first joint overseas tour since the onset COVID-19 in 2020.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

PAGE 4, Friday, February 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Crisis could send gallon price to $8 from page one “We again call for the immediate cessation of hostilities and for the Russians to withdraw to their borders.”

Russia launched a “fullscale invasion” of Ukraine on Wednesday night.

Dozens of people are reported dead after weapon strikes in Ukraine while tens of thousands of people have fled their homes.

Mr Mitchell said the situation is unfortunate.

“It is for that reason we believe that it is important now that the world is once again lined up on one side or the next, that it is important that we be counted on the side of our allies and friends.

“Let us hope that world peace ultimately prevails.

You say to yourself that we’ve had a good run so far trying to recover from this pandemic and just at the point where the world seems to be getting back on its feet, one of the actors does something which disrupts the economy, the world order. For example, they’re predicting the price of oil, for example, will be sky high and right now they’re predicting in the spring time in this country, $8 a gallon for gasoline.”

Mr Mitchell said the problem is whenever there is a war there is an economic

SMOKE rise from an air defence base in the aftermath of an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol, Ukraine, yesterday.

Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka/AP Asked if The Baha- the table in Belize next contraction. This comes as start saying ‘Well I better the country is trying to get start stay at home ‘cause it’s mas will be ready to vote week with his fellow heads not a good idea’ and we’re for sanctions if presented of government that must back on its feet.

“For example, we got a a tourism business. So, to the UN or any other be one of the things they’ll briefing which will be reaf- it’s just not a good signal. forums, Mr Mitchell said he have on their agenda to talk firmed when the Parliament Fortunately it’s not in this believed this will be on the about what measures, if any, meets next week that rev- hemisphere, but everything agenda of the Prime Minis- can be done from this side. ter and other fellow heads enue’s up something like 60 has a knock-on effect.”

“For example, the The United States and of government. percent over the last year.

Russians are actively cam“I was thinking about paigning for us to support So, people are just back in other countries announced gear. So, when you have this severe economic sanctions this,” Mr Mitchell said. them next year at the BIE kind of dislocation people yesterday against Russia “Certainly I think when the (Bureau International des get frightened and they after the invasion.

Prime Minister gets around Expositions) in Paris for

the World Expo in 2030.

So, you ask yourself, you’re trying to persuade us that you’re a good country for us to support and that and that what should our answer be in the face of that…

“One of the difficulties, I would have had an instant answer if these sanctions were imposed by the United Nations, but you know Russia is a part of the Security Council. Sanctions have to be imposed by the Security Council and Russia is one of the five permanent members (that) has a right of veto. So, you can expect that no sanctions will get through the Security Council….so it will just be which would bind us if it went through to the Security Council. So, it will just be now our decisions in concert with our partners, our trade partners in what we do going forward.”

Mr Mitchell said his ministry had no reports of Bahamians being stuck in Russia or Eastern Europe generally.

However, Bahamian WNBA player Jonquel Jones tweeted about the situation, saying she is currently living in Russia.

When asked by one Twitter user how things were going for her, she tweeted “no changes on my end. If it wasn’t for family members messaging me and me following the news I really wouldn’t be able to tell.”

CAMPBELL CRITICISES LAYOFFS OF URBAN RENEWAL STAFF

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell yesterday condemned the government’s decision to lay off several employees from Urban Renewal in what he described as a “political” act.

His comments came after Social Services and

Urban Development Minister Obie Wilchcombe confirmed the layoffs to reporters last week, explaining that former employees were only let go after their contracts had ended.

The minister also claimed many staff members who had been laid off had operated under uncertain status.

“The reality is many were in the system and in fact we’ve had some very

unusual circumstances as well where we’ve had individuals without contracts who’ve been working, and so we’ve had to bring to some level of normalcy,” Mr Wilchcombe said last week.

“The public service over the many years, not just now, but for many years, has seen the population of individuals who are in the service with their status

uncertain and we don’t want that to continue.”

He said the workers are free to reapply for employment with the department.

Yesterday, Mr Campbell said the recent layoffs showed the Davis administration had a “hidden agenda”.

He also described claims that the former employees never applied to be made permanent as being completely false.

Mr Campbell said: “The instructions that I gave that was everyone in Urban Renewal was interested in their jobs and was interested in continuing to the point that I had made recommendation that those who weren’t permanent and pensionable be added to the permanent and pensionable list and the Ministry for Public Service was busy interviewing those persons and calling them in to bring in additional documents so steps were being taken to make those persons permanent and pensionable.

“It was a surprise and shock to hear that those persons were released and how the explanation is being said that they didn’t re-apply. That is not so. I am also fully aware that there were persons with contract

in hand that would not have expired until next year 2023 that have been released so the explanation makes it clear that there is a hidden agenda, and one could only conclude - based on the history of that side - is that it’s political victimisation.”

News of more people being sent to the unemployment line comes as the country continues to grapple with the economic fall-out of COVID-19.

The situation is also exacerbated by concerns about rising food and oil costs caused by global inflation and threats of war after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Yesterday, Mr Campbell said bad decision making by the Davis administration has worsened the country’s economic crisis and caused more hardship for the Bahamian people.

“The evidence is clear,” the former parliamentarian told reporters yesterday.

“The government by stopping certain initiatives and by hiking the prices and by adding VAT to breadbasket items has really added to the hardship and increased the misery index so no they have not helped. They have only made the situation worse.

“We accept that nothing

is written in stone and one of the constant things in life is change so we would’ve accepted that some changes will need to be made, but not changes that add to the hardship, not changes that increase the prices that were duty-free, not changes that increase the amount of persons who end up on the social services line because their jobs are taken away from them.

“Not changes that suggest that a person didn’t re-apply to keep his job, but that person was coming to work every day and expressing an interest in his job and doing his job. I know that advice is a funny thing. The wise don’t need it and the fool won’t heed to it but my humble suggestion is before we remove everything that was left in place, let’s examine the reasoning behind it.

“Before we go and dismiss persons, let’s go and examine the ramifications and the long-term ramifications and how many more persons will be affected by this. Before we go to add to persons needing social assistance, let’s see how much more we can help to reduce the hardship that people are suffering from,” Mr Campbell said.

24 NEW CASES CONFIRMED IN TWO DAYS THE Ministry of Health recorded 24 new cases of COVID-19 over a two-day period and one additional death.

Ten cases were recorded on February 22 and 14 more were recorded on February 23, bringing the nation’s toll to 33,105.

On February 22, one more death was recorded: a 74-year-old New Providence man who died on February 17.

His death brought the nation’s toll to 771 since the start of the pandemic.

At last report, 27 people were in hospital with the virus.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 25, 2022, PAGE 5

‘MINNIS HAS NO STANDING TO ACCUSE US OF HYPOCRISY’ TOURISM, Investments and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper said former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has “no moral standing” to accuse the Davis administration of “hypocrisy” regarding its decision to give a no-bid contract to Colina Insurance Limited for services under the Bahamas Travel Health Visa programme.

Mr Cooper, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, spoke to reporters a day after Dr Minnis criticised the Davis administration over the issue.

“The former Prime Minister and his former Deputy Prime Minister have no moral standing to talk about hypocrisy,” Mr Cooper told reporters yesterday when asked for comment.

“I’ve explained what our position is on the matter.

We stand by the decision.

I have said before that we had to make a decision that was in the best interest of the Bahamian people. We had very limited time in doing so and emergency decisions such as this (are) provided for in the new Procurement Act. And we are satisfied that we did the right thing.”

Earlier this week, The Tribune reported the Ministry of Tourism awarded the no-bid contract to Colina last Fall, shortly after the Davis administration took office.

The move flew in the face of its position when the Progressive Liberal Party was in opposition, considering that it criticised the Minnis administration for similarly giving a no-bid contract to Kanoo Pays for payment processing services for the health visa.

On Tuesday, Mr Cooper confirmed there was no tendering process for the insurance contract attributing this to time constraints.

He defended the decision again yesterday.

“I indicated before that the former insurer CG

Atlantic, refused to provide information to us that would have allowed us to make a proper assessment as it relates to the utilisation and the claims experience and, therefore, we had to make a decision and we did so,” Mr Cooper said.

“Secondly, we requested an extension to allow us to do further analysis as the deadline for terminating that existing agreement had been reached and they declined to offer an extended period to allow us to do further analysis.

“We reached out to several insurers in the marketplace, Colina responded swiftly, they provided a solution, they offered better rates than we had before, they offered a profit-sharing programme, which means that if they made excessive amounts in terms of profits, they would send back some money to the government.

“We believe we negotiated the best deal for the Bahamian people and we stand by the decision that we made, that’s provided for (in) emergencies like this in the rules and guidelines.

“We are committed to the highest standards of governance, this is what we will continue to do for and on behalf of the Bahamian people.”

On Wednesday, Dr Minnis hit out at the revelation, saying it is not fair to compare that contract award with his administration’s decision to give Kanoo Pays a no-bid contract for payment processing services under the same scheme.

“You (are) trying to compare apples with grapes,” Dr Minnis said. “I think it’s more than hypocritical because we were in an emergency situation when we did that, they were not in an emergency situation when they did this.”

Former Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest also took jabs at Mr Cooper

over the matter during the Free National Movement’s convention Wednesday night.

“You know it was laughable to hear the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Aviation try to justify and explain the granting of a no bid contract for the travel visa programme that he criticised so heavily while in opposition,” Mr Turnquest said.

“Remember his tirades about Kanoo and Atlantic Medical. Well, according to the DPM, his no bid contract was justified because of the urgency of the decision to change insurance contractors. I wonder what was the urgency since he saw no benefit in the programme anyway?

“The DPM went on to say that the Ministry of Tourism is not subject to the government’s procurement rules and thus he does not have to follow them.

I suggest the DPM have another look at the Act because the provisions are clear. Besides, it’s just good business practice as I’m sure he is aware.”

In an audit of the visa programme released last week, Auditor General Terrance Bastian criticised the lack of competitive bidding that has characterised the initiative since its inception. In addition to the insurance and payment processing services, there was no competitive bidding originally for companies that completed the software for the online platform, provided rapid antigen tests on day five of arrival and managed the approved testing labs and day five tests.

Mr Bastian acknowledged the time pressures officials faced in executing the visa programme, but said the services should have gone out to tender, particularly the insurance service given the significant costs associated with that service.

COOPER CLAIMS CRIMINAL LIBEL BY ARCHER

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper has made a complaint with police against Omar Archer, accusing him of criminal libel.

In a letter to Police Commissioner Paul Rolle yesterday, Mr Cooper said: “A voice note that makes false allegations against me was forwarded to me by several persons last evening via WhatsApp. I recognise the voice to be that of Omar Archer. The voice note accuses me of

corruption and conflict of interest. The allegations are false! I hereby request that the matter is investigated.”

Commissioner Rolle declined to comment yesterday.

Mr Archer’s claims concern BAF Financial and government leases.

In a statement, Mr Cooper said: “A widely circulated voice note on WhatsApp making defamatory claims has been forwarded to me. The claims are patently false and without merit and appear to be a criminal attempt to defame my character. I have instructed my attorney to

take the appropriate legal action and I have made a formal complaint to the Commissioner of Police.

There is much work to be done to move our country forward. Those who engage in character assassination of the men and women who offer to serve this nation are acting contrary to the national interest. I will not hesitate to use all legal means whether through civil or criminal recourse.”

Mr Archer served as Contractor’s Registrar at the Ministry of Works under the Minnis administration.

He could not be reached for comment.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis in Abaco yesterday.

Photo: Office of the Prime Minister

Where are promised new Abaco homes? from page one

His comments came at a groundbreaking event for the government’s Central Pines Abaco housing project where he promised to carry out several initiatives to help residents bounce back from Hurricane Dorian.

Mr Davis credited Abaco residents for remaining strong and working together to salvage their lives and communities in the most difficult conditions.

He said the least Abaco residents deserve is an effective and supportive government, as he committed to “fixing the operational issues and inefficiencies that have acted as obstacles and slowed progress” in rebuilding.

“During our assessment, we found that the affordable homes programme in the Central Pines Subdivision - which the previous government introduced - had only partially built five of the 53 homes planned for that subdivision with the Disaster Reconstruction Authority at the helm,” Mr Davis said.

“It took two years to build fewer than ten percent of the promised homes. Many excuses were offered, but excuses can’t put a roof over a family’s head at night.

Excuse(s) can’t protect our children from the elements.”

While Mr Davis noted plans to build 53 homes, in June 2021 The Nassau Guardian reported that then-Disaster Reconstruction Authority project manager Wendell Grant said the Minnis administration planned to build 42 homes for Dorian survivors in Central Pines. At the time, Mr Grant said construction would commence in phases, with the first phase consisting of five homes.

“We are moving the responsibility for those lots from the DRA to the minister responsible for housing. I am confident that we will see efficiency and progress under her leadership,” said Mr Davis. “Minister

Coleby-Davis is a woman of action – and that’s what people here need and deserve: action.”

Mr Davis said that not only were the “homes being built at a snail’s pace” but plans had been redeveloped “so that multiple homes would occupy a single lot, and the materials did not live up to the quality and style of the neighbourhood”.

He said this led to concerns that this approach would lead to a devaluation of homes and lots in the subdivision.

“We could not allow this policy to continue,” Mr Davis said. “Our partnership with local small contractors will lead to the building of 48 homes in this subdivision, consistent with the standards envisioned for this neighbourhood while also being offered at a relatively low cost.

“We will create opportunities for local contractors through public-private partnerships while providing quality, affordable housing to dozens of families. You see, we don’t believe that just because the people of Abaco urgently need housing, we can build any old structures. People deserve to live with dignity.”

Mr Davis encouraged all interested residents to visit an open house where teams from the Department of Housing, the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation and private financial institutions were present to process applications and pre-approve them on site. “We are committed to swift progress, and what you see today is only part of our plan for the restoration and development of the Abacos, which also includes a renewal of the Small Home Repairs programme; a new phase of debris removal; completion of the main shelter in Abaco; more solutions for those currently in temporary housing and establishing a solution for much-needed rental units,” Mr Davis said.

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PAGE 6, Friday, February 25, 2022

The Tribune Limited

THE TRIBUNE

PICTURE OF THE DAY

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

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Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

Published daily Monday to Friday

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Ukraine conflict will affect us all OVER the past two nights, the world has looked on in horror as Russia invaded Ukraine in a war in Eastern Europe long warned against, but now taking place.

The scenes were shocking – from the long lines of traffic as people loaded their families into their cars and fled to the scenes of destruction as the first attacks took place and the first reports of fatalities circulated.

It may seem far away, but this conflict will have effects for us here at home.

Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell pointed out one way it will affect us – hitting us in the pocket.

He noted predictions that have been made that the price of gasoline may well hit $8 per gallon by the spring.

That may well have knock-on effects for electricity costs, and so on.

That won’t be all, however. We’ve already seen how problems with the supply chain have left supermarket shelves sometimes short of goods and caused a number of businesses difficulties in obtaining supplies that need to be shipped into the country.

The increase in fuel costs will add to that – but there have also been requests to close some shipping lanes in Europe that could exacerbate matters.

Either way, we can expect higher priced goods – with prices already high – and a shortage of some products.

Is that it? Well, perhaps the bigger question is what this will mean for the political landscape.

If Russia is able to continue with its invasion and isn’t stifled in its ambitions, the question will be what comes next?

Not just for Russia, which might eye other former Soviet states, but for other nations.

It might seem unlikely, but thinking back to the closest the world has come to a nuclear conflict, the scene for that dispute was in nearby Cuba in 1961, with the stand-off over missiles in that nation leading to the failed Bay of Pigs invasion.

The world may be different in many ways from that time – but the potential for political overflow is there, and who might be encouraged if Russia’s attack is not opposed in strength?

And with Russian President Vladimir Putin hinting at nuclear consequences for those who stand against him, there is nowhere to hide in a world where the ultimate weapon might be unleashed.

So we will feel it in our pocket, but we will also feel it in our politics. We cannot feel isolated from this, or that it is none of our business – and Mr Mitchell is right to add his voice to the chorus around the world calling for an end to the conflict.

We hope such voices prevail – and that Putin’s aggression is not rewarded.

UKRAINIAN servicemen sit atop armored personnel carriers driving on a road in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, yesterday.

Photo: Vadim Ghirda/AP

Shenseea should be Behaving badly banned on the streets EDITOR, The Tribune.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

PLEASE allow me a space in your newspaper to get something off my chest.

As I cruise around the streets of Nassau daily, I am amazed to see some of the foolishness that I see, some black people are doing. Sometimes I wonder if some of my black people have all upstairs - what I mean is do they have sense?

I see men who are the ages of 40 to 60, wearing their pants below the hip and displaying their filthy under pants. I also see young women cursing and drinking in the streets, who sometimes have little clothes on.

I only see black illiterate young men, almost

every day down at the court house, doing the Bank Lane shuffle, I do not see any white boys, or should I say Conchy Joes, doing the Bank Lane shuffle. I see black men killing other black men daily. I do not see the white boys doing the same. What really got my attention was, I was passing “Twin Brother’s” on Carmichael Road and there was a man making conch salad, and he was mixing up the salad with his bare hands, no gloves on and people were in line waiting to buy that salad.

What about COVID19, the man has no mask on, no gloves, but he was making conch salad. I ask one of the ladies, are you going to eat that salad?

She said to me, they do not have gloves on at Potter’s Cay! This lady has let her ignorance be dominant, and shows where her ignorance has taken its place.

I am a black person, but I am ashamed to know that I am black. As I stroll down by the Straw Market, I am so embarrassed how some of the hair braiders and the straw vendors act in front of the tourists. Some black people have six things going against them, they are black, they are envious, they are dumb and stupid, some are ugly, some lack intelligence and some have that black crab syndrome.

THE OBSERVER Nassau, February 22, 2022.

Researching a living wage EDITOR, The Tribune.

I’M LESVIE Archer, principal investigator behind the living wages study. Public interest in the study’s findings is exciting and I’d like to contribute by sharing some short, but interesting facts: 1. Living wages differ from minimum wages, but some persons and countries use both terms indiscriminately. While minimum wages operate as a government-mandated wage rate, living wages are voluntarily paid by employers to their employees.

Per Anker, “living wages” is a family concept.

Our study estimates the monthly wages needed by

a full-time adult worker to care for a family of four (2 adults and 2 children), provided the other adult works part-time.

Our living wage estimate includes the cost of 3 basic meals and two snacks for each day for each family member, rental costs and utilities, additional costs (education, healthcare, transportation, clothing and footwear, recreation and culture, communication, furnishings, equipment, household needs, alcohol), national insurance, monthly union dues, savings (5%), and emergency funds (5%).

Our study focuses on the rental market; investigating homeownership costs

would be a new and interesting study.

Our research team collected prices for more than 2000 food items in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. It is common knowledge that prices constantly change; hence, we present our figures as estimates.

Our estimates offer conservative insight into the salary low-income workers need to maintain a basic, but decent standard of living for themselves and their families, when living in New Providence or Grand Bahama.

LESVIE ARCHER Nassau, February 23 2022.

A US-BASED online news site recently reported that The Bahamas leads the world in rape cases per capita. According to the site, the rate is pegged at 133 per 100,000 people. In the Caribbean country of St Vincent and the Grenadines, the rate is 112 per 100,000; while in Jamaica it is 51 per 100,000. This disturbing and embarrassing data was revealed at the National Forum for Review of Discriminatory Laws on Gender Based Violence in Nassau by an official who also said that the United Nations (UN) considers The Bahamas a “very dangerous place for women”.

The rape data backs up the UN’s assumptions.

This story was also posted on The Tribune’s webpage sometime last week, I think.

On February 22, The Tribune posted an article about the Ministry of Health not being aware of plans for a concert featuring Jamaican dancehall artist Shenseea, which is tentatively scheduled for March 19 in New Providence. Why are all these Jamaican dancehall artists so anxious to perform in Nassau?

I am elated that Health Minister Dr Michael Darville has not given the Bahamian promoters permission to go ahead with the concert. Even if COVID-19 were not a factor, event organisers should still not be given approval.

Like the cancelled Dexta Daps event, my main problem with Shenseea is her raunchy, vulgar message, performance and dressing, which would undermine the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government’s attempts to eradicate gender-based violence.

Last month, former Jamaican dancehall artist

LETTERS

letters@tribunemedia.net Marion Hall, known professionally as Lady Saw, sharply rebuked Shenseea, Spice, Jada Kingdom and Ishawna for their well-publicized lewd acts on stage and in their concept videos.

Eight days prior to the March 19 date, Shenseea, born Chinsea Linda Lee in Mandeville, Jamaica on October 1, 1996, will release her studio album titled Alpha. A photo of a topless Shenseea appears on the front cover. I stand to be corrected, but Alpha may be the album that she received a 2022 Grammy Awards nomination for album of the year. The fifth track on Alpha, Lick, is about oral sex. Shenseea has garnered a lot of criticism in Jamaica for Lick. According to one dancehall blog, Jamaican dancehall artists such as Vybz Kartel, Beenie Man, Alkaline, Aidonia and Mavado all “retained the original dancehall stance against giving oral sex and embraced receiving it”.

Songs such as Nothing Dem Nuh Have Ova Me, Dolly, Loodi, Trick’a Treat, Tie Me Up, Rude Gyal, Position, Jiggle Jiggle, R U That, Rebel, Potential Man, Bum Like Ball, Bad Habit, Bridgets & Desert, Limited Edition, Funk Flex, Dynamite, Undo, Temptation Overdrive, Beat Me Congo, Body Good, Sidechick, Foreplay and Shen Yeng Anthem are all either sexually explicit or implicit, offensive, vulgar, lewd and degrading towards women.

The songs Pom Mi and R U That are especially degrading and downright sexually explicit. Signed to the American record label Interscope, Shenseea is obviously hoping to tap into the lucrative American

market.

The US Constitution in its First Amendment allows for the smut that the dancehall music industry produces without any fear of censorship. Shenseea’s brand of entertainment would never be allowed in strict Islamic countries.

That the Bahamian promoters are attempting to stage a Shenseea event suggests to this writer that they are under the impression that the Bahamian constitution also affords vulgar and obscene entertainers the same latitude American entertainers enjoy.

Collaborating with Kanye West, Christina Aguilera, Young Thug, Major Lazer, Masego, Swae Lee, Vybz Kartel, Sean Paul, Tyrrus Riley and Megan Thee Stallion, Shenseea has a massive platform that the Bahamian promoters are obviously attempting to capitalise on for financial gain. But I think that the PLP government must look beyond the financial aspect of this event and look at the overall picture. There’s some things more important than money.

Shenseea’s main message is the sexual objectification of women. The PLP government must understand that allowing Shenseea to perform her lewd acts on stage would undermine its message that it is opposed to all forms of gender-based violence against women and girls.

The PLP government should simply outright ban Shenseea from performing in The Bahamas.

Send the message to these Bahamian promoters and foreign entertainers that this country will not tolerate the public degrading of our women and girls.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama February 24, 2022.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 25, 2022, PAGE 7

Officer testifies in $1m drug trial

By PAVEL BAILEY

A POLICE officer testified yesterday in the drug trial of three men who were allegedly caught in waters off South Andros with more than $1m worth of marijuana.

Howard Ednel Rolle, Clyde Dawkins and Pizzario Alvon Brennen all pleaded not guilty to the charges against them before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney.

The three men were caught on a boat on May 3, 2019, with $1,627,000 worth of marijuana they allegedly had planned to sell.

While giving testimony yesterday, Sergeant Pratt told the court on the day

of the arrests he and other officers boarded police boat 14 at about 3.30am. They were acting on information they had received on the police radio to intercept a 27-foot white speed boat with twin engines occupied by three male suspects in waters off South Andros.

They soon saw the boat speeding towards them when the officer turned the police lights and siren on, causing the suspects’ vessel to flee in the opposite direction.

A short chase followed, but the suspects were later caught with the assistance of a US Coast Guard helicopter, the court was told.

Sgt Pratt said when he and other officers boarded the vessel, they positively

MAN FACES COURT ON DRUG CHARGE

By PAVEL BAILEY

A MAN appeared in court yesterday to face a drug charge after failing to appear for his standing firearm charges trial.

Delbert Bonimy, 22, of Lake Lane, Bel-Air Estates, stood before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney, who had cancelled his bail after Bonimy failed to appear in court to answer to charges of possession of a dangerous firearm.

When asked to explain why he skipped bail, Bonimy explained that he didn’t return to court because he was busy working as a fisherman to provide for his newborn child.

Desperate to return to his infant, Bonimy asked the court to release him from custody on bail again.

While the warrant for his arrest was cancelled for

missing his previous court date, he was told he would need to find one new suretor to pay his new bail of $1,500 before his release.

Magistrate McKinney further warned him not to miss court again.

Bonimy then faced his next court charge for possession of dangerous drugs in connection with his arrest on February 23 in New Providence. Police said they found him with more than three ounces of Indian hemp that day.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the latest charge against him and denied any involvement in the matter.

Both of Bonimy’s cases were adjourned to April 11.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

identified Rolle as the captain, Brennen as the owner of the vessel and Dawkins as a passenger.

The officers then visited a location in the water where the suspects had allegedly tossed 43 sacks with suspected marijuana, weighing 1,627 pounds. Officers also recovered a black Nike bag with an assortment of clothes and Brennen’s NIB card inside.

During cross-examination, attorneys representing Dawkins and Rolle asked the officer if he

remembered what the suspects said immediately after the drugs were found.

The witness said he could not recall.

The officer was also asked if he knew how long the drugs were floating in the water, to which he could not give a definite answer.

The attorneys suggested there was no way to positively determine if the drugs had ever come from their clients’ vessel at all.

However, when he gave testimony, DC Ferguson, who was aboard the US

Coast Guard helicopter during the operation, said he saw the accused toss suspicious packages off the side of the vessel.

He said during covert surveillance of the suspects in the air while wearing night vision goggles, he observed one of the occupants of the suspect vessel toss sacks into the ocean.

DC Ferguson said he deployed a flare in the water near the suspected sacks before joining the chase with police boat 14 which helped officers locate

the drugs after the chase.

He also confirmed to the prosecution that there were no other vessels in the area at the time.

This led to a defence attorney suggesting to the prosecution that DC Ferguson couldn’t possibly pay attention to other vehicles in the area if he was involved in the pursuit of his client’s vessel. He also stood by the idea that the drugs could have floated from anywhere.

The trial was adjourned to April 26.

PAGE 8, Friday, February 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

A scandal in opposition, business as usual in power A Comic’s View

THE more things change, the more they stay the same.

I’m old enough to remember a time - six months ago- when the big talk was all about “the travel visa scandal”. According to

By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA very loud proponents in the then opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), the PLP’s position has mor- the previous provider, CG the Minnis government had phed into a carbon copy of Atlantic, was not forthcomcommitted the greatest sin what they blasted Minnis ing with details about the under the rising sun since for doing. This newspaper programme’s performance. someone thought it was a reported on Wednesday Cooper also claimed CG good idea to put mayon- that under the Davis Atlantic was unwilling to naise on conch administration, extend its services until snacks.

Yes, the Ministry of ministry officials could anathe Minnis ‘If Davis, Cooper, Tourism gave lyse the agreement. and Co were administraa no-bid conHe also added this: “I tion awarded aware of this fact, tract to Colina will speak to the decision a no-bid conInsurance Lim- making of my administratract to Kanoo what was all the ited to provide tion and me as a minister to manage the fuss about a few insurance ser- and defend my stewardvisa fees. under ship… I am not going to get months ago? Was vices In fact, it the Baha- into the politics of Kanoo wasn’t even it wrong then but mas Travel and the Bahamas Travel called a pro- suddenly right Health Visa Health Visa.” gramme by now? Or was it programme.

I think this is what GenPLP surroThat’s right; eration Z calls the “Bruh, gates.

The right then and the same min- trust me!” defense. ominous talk- only admitted The Ministry of Touristry, once ing point at the to now?’ again mixed ism is now also offering the time was that up in the same caveat that the Promotion it was a “travel of Tourism Act empow“scheme”. visa scheme”. Because, you When questioned on ers the minister of tourism know, around these parts why such a contract was to enter into contracts “as “programme” sounds full executed under the New the minister may deem of potential while “scheme” Day government, Deputy necessary”.

Huh? sounds nefarious.

Prime Minister and MinIf Davis, Cooper, and Fast forward to the past ister of Tourism Chester few weeks and how quickly Cooper’s excuse was that Co were aware of this fact,

TOURISM, Investments and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper. what was all the fuss about a few months ago? Was it wrong then but suddenly right now? Or was it right then and only admitted to now?

Maybe, just maybe, it was wrong then and is still wrong now.

I think most Bahamians find the whole business of no-bid contracts (in emergencies and out) disrespectful and anathema to good governance. If we

change our principles based solely on who the offenders are, then the truth is we have no principles at all.

That’s why watching hardcore PLP and FNM supporters wrangle over what this recent travel visa contract revelation means is quite amusing. You haven’t been entertained until you witness the mental gymnastics it takes to vehemently defend a position you rabidly opposed mere weeks

ago. Especially when your opponents are ‘pulling receipts’ from your social media timeline and WhatsApp messages because they don’t have to search far to debunk your hypocrisy.

I’ve already documented in this column how the Davis administration has ‘switched their mouths up’ on numerous positions they took before the election only to quickly ‘turn tail’ after elections. So I won’t revisit those today.

I will say this, though; it’s a shame that the face of this latest ‘scheme’ is DPM Chester Cooper. He is genuinely one of the bright stars in this current administration, so I would hate to see him fall into the trap a shrewd politician should try to avoid.

Still, watching Cooper defend a no-bid contract (which Chester Copper of six months ago eloquently made the case against) reminds me of that famous saying from Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Dark Knight’.

In the film, District Attorney Harvey Dent made this poignant observation about the caped-crusader Batman: “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

FOUR CONSUL GENERAL POSTS REVEALED

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper announced yesterday the appointments of four Consuls General who will serve in the United States.

Curt Hollingsworth will serve as Consul General in Miami; Leroy Major will serve as Consul General in New York; Anthony Moss will serve as Consul General in Atlanta; and Patrick Adderley will serve as Consul General in Washington, DC. Mr Cooper noted that the duties of all Consuls General is beyond dealing with passports, visas, prison visits and the authentication of documents.

“They’re charged with expanding the outreach to Bahamians overseas.

They’re also charged with

assisting in the growth and the development and the brand and reputation of our country,” he said.

“The largest Bahamian communities overseas are in Miami, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New York. The Prime Minister has, therefore, charged us with growing the relationships with the diaspora.

This is vitally important to the future success, growth, and development of The Bahamas.”

It is this objective Mr Adderley hopes to accomplish.

“I will endeavour to strengthen and deepen engagement within the Bahamian diaspora in Washington, DC, for the purpose of increasing the profile and the connection of the potential rich resource base to further the social and economic connections with those in

The Bahamas,” he said at a press conference yesterday.

“Another goal will be the promotion of our country’s economic and cultural sectors which I consider essential for the sustainable economic development of the country. I will seek opportunities for new and creative ways to display our exceptional Bahamian crafts and businesses as well as forge bilateral opportunities towards economic development and increase cooperation.”

Meanwhile, Mr Moss said that with continued focus on education, sports, entertainment and all other matters that pertain to the Bahamian community abroad, he hoped to continue to foster old and new relationships.

“With support of my staff, I intend to lead (the) Atlanta consul on a path to continued success,” he said.

$800 FINE FOR AMMUNITION POSSESSION

By PAVEL BAILEY

A MAN was fined $800 after pleading guilty in court yesterday to possession of ammunition.

Two other men who were arraigned with him were discharged.

Nossia Haven, 26, Roranda Kelly, 23, and Antino Miller, 36, appeared before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney in

connection with their arrest on Monday.

On February 21, officers executed a search warrant at Haven’s residence on Cameron Street where they uncovered a box of ammunition hidden under the living room couch with eight rounds of .40 mm ammunition. All three accused were at the home at the time of the search and were charged together.

While Haven has prior

antecedents and later admitted to the offence, the other two accused men had no prior offences and said they had no knowledge of the ammunition.

In court, both Kelly and Miller pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate McKinney sentenced Haven to a fine of $800 or six months in prison.

The magistrate discharged the other two men.

SEVEN WOMEN TO BE HONOURED AT ‘WOMEN IN WHITE’ CONFERENCE SEVEN women will be honoured for the work they’ve done in their communities at the second annual “Women in White” conference, slated for February 26 - 27 at the Zion Yamacraw Baptist Church (ZYBC).

“Women in White” is a service of celebration, empowerment, and the development of women.

The idea for the conference started with the wish to honour and recognise women for their role in the family, church and the community, and for being their sister’s keeper.

Grace Toote, co-chair of this year’s conference, said the overall goal is to honour and uplift one another.

“We want to encourage women to live an exemplary life in our church and community as we walk worthy to fulfil the work that God has assigned to the Church,” Ms Toote

said. “Our conference is also held to honur and recognise our church mothers, who are pillars of endurance and fortitude.”

This year’s conference, held under the theme “Women of Strength and Courage”, will feature an empowerment seminar this Saturday from 8.45am to 2pm and a celebration service this Sunday at 3pm.

Saturday’s empowerment seminar will include a keynote address by Dr Joanne Butler of Kemp Road Ministries.

Also in the line-up this Saturday is Pastor Deneace Lloyd, who will speak about “Love in Crisis”.

Marisa Mason Smith will speak about “Courage in Crisis”.

The Saturday afternoon session will focus on health and wellness, mindfulness, healthy lifestyles, and the importance of mental health. Marlene McKinney

will speak about healthy food options; Dr Tonette Hanna will give tips that can assist women with living a healthier lifestyle, and Lacricia Swain will address conference attendees on how to stay fit.

Rev Patricia Smith is expected to open Saturday’s seminar with a devotion.

On “Celebration Sunday”, Rev Diana Francis, lead pastor of First Baptist Church, will serve as guest speaker. Seven distinguished women of God will also be honoured by Rev Dr Glendon E Rolle for their faithful service to the ZYBC ministry.

The seven honorees include: Mother Shirley Greene, Mother Dianne Rolle, Mother Angela Cartwright, Mother Mazie Simmons, Mother Enid Ruddock, Mother Wilhelmina Thurston, and Mother Francina Barr-Rolle.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 25, 2022, PAGE 9

TY’S PLACE EVERY DISH SERVED WITH LOVE, HOPE AND HEART

THE TEAM from Ty’s Place, above, and, right, one of the meals served at the venue.

By Diane Phillips

DOWN a narrow noname road off Village Road at the end of the pavement lies a 120-year-old Bahamian cottage. The sign above the veranda says Ty’s Place. If you’ve ever been there, you will never forget the day and the experience.

If you’ve never been there, tomorrow is not too soon. to lasagna or meat loaf and You see, Ty’s Place is mashed potatoes, from their a restaurant that is more famous homemade mangothan a restaurant. It is an drizzle salad dressing to example of what can go freshly squeezed limeade, right when you believe in there’s variety, plate appeal something. The something and just plain good flavour founder Cheryl Johnson to savour.

Newell believed in was the Newell founded Ty’s ability of people with a displace four ability. Most of years ago.

It is the staff has one ‘Ty’s Place is a named after Ty sort of challenge restaurant that Bethel, the son or another or is more than a of Mizpah and even multiple landscape guru challenges rang- restaurant. It Tim Bethel. Ty ing from autism is an example was born with to mild Down’s of what can Down’s synsyndrome.

On drome and at go right when their own, they the age of five may have faced you believe in was diagnosed a public that did something.’ with leukaenot understand mia. You may or care. Together, remember the they are like a family and signs that were posted every meal they prepare around Nassau as so many, and serve is dished out with touched by his story and his love and hope and heart. courage, showed support, All that aside, the food is raising funds for the young delicious. From the basics family facing huge medilike beef or portabella cal bills. There was a walk mushroom burgers and that attracted hundreds. Ty cracked chicken to the veg- lost his battle with cancer gies and cranberry chicken when he was 10. Newell, salad to specials that who has a son with Down’s change daily like a creamy syndrome, and her family conch chowder or spicy had been friendly with the penne pasta with shrimp or Bethel family going back chicken, from lobster salad generations. A singer and

entertainer for 30 years, performing at Atlantis and elsewhere and with greats like the late Ronnie Butler, something in her changed when Ty died. She traded the microphone for an apron and a business that she did not know would make it or not, but she wanted to give adults with challenges a way to make a living, to find dignity and self-worth and her smile tells all.

Newell knows most of her customers by name and greets them as if they were family. You cannot help but feel at home on the veranda which they have had to expand, thanks to the popularity of Ty’s Place.

Only Newell and the cook lack a disability. But others like Jeanie Kemp and Katie Donald are proud of who they are and what they do.

Jeanie, for instance, like a few others, not only serves on the premises, she hops in a car, delivers orders and zips right back to the cottage at the end of the pavement to take her place again as server-in-chief in the midst of a busy lunch hour. The take-out business like Saturday boiled

WHEN WILL BANKS RESUME HOURS? REMEMBER the days when you could go for a boiled fish on Saturday morning and then head to the bank? Or the afternoons when you could do a school pick up and stop at the bank on the way back to work?

Now going to the bank between the hours of 9 or 9:30 and 1pm is like having to schedule a vacation day.

Or trying to call all the numbers for another bank only to be answered by a robot saying not available.

Or waiting in line outside a bank with no shade or shelter even though the bank management knows there will be lines on Fridays because it is not like Friday is a freak. It happens every week like clockwork.

Did anyone remind their bankers that the worst of COVID appears to be behind us and we are now entering the era known as endemic rather than pandemic, meaning we learn to live with it and we expect more of our banks than we did when COVID made us more sympathetic to those struggling with staff shortages because of illness?

Commercial or retail banks are going to face a lot of competition in the coming

few years and for those that hope to survive in some semblance of brick and mortar fashion, it is time to wake up and smell the fury.

Customer service has shrunk to what feels like a new low. The other day I had an email that was so rude in tone that the department manager who was copied was so mortified she picked up the phone to call me to apologise for the tone her colleague had used.

The humorous part - the rude email saying there was nothing they could do or planned to do to expedite the delivery of a replacement credit card that was cancelled due to a fraud attempt was signed by someone whose title was customer care representative.

While we were appreciative the fraud attempt was caught by the bank immediately, the initial communication advised a new card would be issued within 7-10 days so when nearly two weeks went by and we asked about the card, we never expected a reply from customer care saying too bad. The exact words were “we are unable to request a rush card at this time.” I reminded her that two weeks is not a rush.

There are now 14 emails in my inbox related to this one item. That does not include sent e-mails. This would not happen with American Express so complain about it all you want, but when there has been a fraud attempt on my AmEx, I get a new card couriered the following day. That is customer service.

What I am getting now from a particular bank is a signal that they do not care about our business or our convenience or our needs in the slightest. Next thing you know, they will want me to pay a fee for banking with them. Oh, yeah, I think I already do that.

Truly, it is time for banks to re-examine how they treat Bahamians and take a good look around at the options for keeping your money in a place that pays no interest and now no attention.

People complain about the public service, especially now with the horrendous backlog of business licences. But if ever there was room for improvement, it should start with retail banks because right now the public service is looking pretty good compared with banks advertising that they are serving Bahamians.

fish and chicken souse has been so strong that Newell is taking the next step in an expanding dream.

After four years of lunch only, Ty’s Place will begin serving breakfast March 1 and will be open six days a week, closed only on Sunday.

Cheryl Johnson Newell, a woman with heart, who saw in others what they could do when so many chose only to see what they could not, has created a restaurant with a cause and a cause for celebration.

PAGE 10, Friday, February 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

A WOMAN walks past the debris in the aftermath of Russian shelling, in Mariupol, Ukraine, yesterday.

Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka/AP

Russia presses invasion to edge of Ukrainian capital KYIV, Ukraine Associated Press

RUSSIA pressed its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of the capital after unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order.

Explosions sounded before dawn in Kyiv as Western leaders scheduled an emergency meeting and Ukraine’s president pleaded for international help. The nature of the explosions was not immediately clear, but the blasts came amid signs that the capital and largest Ukrainian city was increasingly threatened following a day of fighting that left more than 100 Ukrainians dead.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the government had information that “subversive groups” were encroaching

on the city, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Kyiv “could well be under siege” in what US officials believe is a brazen attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to dismantle the government and replace it with his own regime.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin told lawmakers on a phone call Thursday evening that Russian mechanised forces that entered from Belarus were about 20 miles from Kyiv, according to a person familiar with the call.

The assault, anticipated for weeks by the US and Western allies and undertaken by Putin in the face of international condemnation and cascading sanctions, amounts to the largest ground war in Europe since World War II. Russian missiles bombarded cities and military bases in the first day of the attack, and Ukraine officials said they had lost control of

the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, scene of the world’s worst nuclear disaster. Civilians piled into trains and cars to flee and patrons of a hotel were directed into a shelter as explosions sounded in Kyiv.

“Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and won’t give up its freedom,” Zelenskyy tweeted. His grasp on power increasingly tenuous, he called Thursday for even more severe sanctions than the ones imposed by Western allies and ordered a full military mobilization that would last 90 days.

Zelenskyy said in a video address that 137 “heroes,” including 10 military officers, had been killed and 316 people wounded. The dead included border guards on the Zmiinyi Island in the Odesa region, which was taken over by Russians.

He concluded an emotional speech by saying that “the fate of the country

depends fully on our army, security forces, all of our defenders”. He also said the country had heard from Moscow that “they want to talk about Ukraine’s neutral status.”

Biden was to meet this morning with fellow leaders of NATO governments in what the White House described as an “extraordinary virtual summit” to disuss Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden announced new sanctions against Russia, saying Putin “chose this war” and had exhibited a “sinister” view of the world in which nations take what they want by force. Other nations also announced sanctions, or said they would shortly.

“It was always about naked aggression, about Putin’s desire for empire by any means necessary — by bullying Russia’s neighbours through coercion and corruption, by changing borders by force, and, ultimately, by choosing a war without a cause,” Biden said.

Blinken said in television interviews that he was convinced that Russia was intent on overthrowing the Ukrainian government, telling CBS that Putin wants to “reconstitute the Soviet empire” and that Kyiv was already “under threat, and it could well be under siege”.

Fearing a Russian attack on the capital city, thousands of people went deep underground as night fell, jamming Kyiv’s subway stations.

At times it felt almost cheerful.

Families ate dinner. Children played.

Adults chatted. People brought sleeping bags or dogs or crossword puzzles — anything to alleviate the

waiting and the long night ahead.

But the exhaustion was clear on many faces. And the worries.

“Nobody believed that this war would start and that they would take Kyiv directly,” said Anton Mironov, waiting out the night in one of the old Soviet metro stations. “I feel mostly fatigue. None of it feels real.”

The invasion began early yesterday with a series of missile strikes, many on key government and military installations, quickly followed by a three-pronged ground assault. Ukrainian and US officials said Russian forces were attacking from the east toward Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city; from the southern region of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014; and from Belarus to the north.

Zelenskyy, who had earlier cut diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared martial law, appealed to global leaders, saying that “if you don’t help us now, if you fail to offer a powerful assistance to Ukraine, tomorrow the war will knock on your door”.

Though Biden said he had no plans to speak with Putin, the Russian leader did have what the Kremlin described as a “serious and frank exchange” with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Both sides claimed to have destroyed some of the other’s aircraft and military hardware, though little of that could be confirmed.

Hours after the invasion began, Russian forces seized control of the nowunused Chernobyl plant and its surrounding exclusion zone after a fierce

battle, presidential adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press.

The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said it was told by Ukraine of the takeover, adding that there had been “no casualties or destruction at the industrial site.”

The 1986 disaster occurred when a nuclear reactor at the plant 80 miles north of Kyiv exploded, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe. The damaged reactor was later covered by a protective shell to prevent leaks.

Alyona Shevtsova, adviser to the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, wrote on Facebook that staff members at the Chernobyl plant had been “taken hostage.” The White House said it was “outraged” by reports of the detentions.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence issued an update saying that though the plant was “likely captured,” the country’s forces had halted Russia’s advance toward Chernihiv and that it was unlikely that Russia had achieved its planned Day One military objectives.

The chief of the NATO alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, said the “brutal act of war” shattered peace in Europe, joining a chorus of world leaders decrying an attack that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government. The conflict shook global financial markets: Stocks plunged and oil prices soared amid concerns that heating bills and food prices would skyrocket.

Condemnation came not only from the US and Europe, but from South Korea, Australia and beyond.

PUTIN WAVES NUCLEAR SWORD WARSAW, Poland Associated Press

IT HAS been a long time since the threat of using nuclear weapons has been brandished so openly by a world leader, but Vladimir Putin has just done it, warning in a speech that he has the weapons available if anyone dares to military means to try to stop Russia’s takeover of Ukraine.

The threat may have been empty, a mere baring of fangs by the Russian president, but it was noticed. It kindled visions of a nightmarish outcome in which Putin’s ambitions in Ukraine could lead to a nuclear war through accident or miscalculation.

“As for military affairs, even after the dissolution of the USSR and losing a considerable part of its

capabilities, today’s Russia remains one of the most powerful nuclear states,” Putin said, in his preinvasion address early on Thursday.

“Moreover, it has a certain advantage in several cutting-edge weapons. In this context, there should be no doubt for anyone that any potential aggressor will face defeat and ominous consequences should it directly attack our country.”

By merely suggesting a nuclear response, Putin put into play the disturbing possibility that the current fighting in Ukraine might eventually veer into an atomic confrontation between Russia and the United States.

President Joe Biden has been aware of the danger of nuclear war between Russia and NATO since the

emergence of the crisis with Ukraine. From the start, he has said NATO would not be sending troops into Ukraine because it could trigger direct fighting between the US and Russia, leading to nuclear escalation and possibly World War III. It was a tacit admission that the United States would not take on the Russians militarily over Ukraine, and instead rely on extraordinary sanctions to gradually strangle the Russian economy.

But the admission also included another truth.

When it came to fighting off a Russian invasion, Ukraine remained on its own because it is a nontreaty member and does not qualify for protection under NATO’s nuclear umbrella.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 25, 2022, PAGE 11

JOE JOHNSON HELPS US BEAT PUERTO RICO 93-76 IN QUALIFIER

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — As long as Joe Johnson can play basketball in some form or fashion, he figures there’s no need to contemplate the end of his career.

“I never look at it like that. I’m a guy who loves to hoop. Me and my son, he’s 15 years old, we’re in the gym almost every day working,” Johnson said. “So that’s never my thought process. Even though I’m not playing professionally, I still get a chance to compete.”

The 40-year-old Johnson’s latest opportunity is with the US national team in World Cup qualifying, and he gave the Americans a lift last night, scoring 18 points in a 93-76 win over Puerto Rico. The US overcame a 10-point first-half deficit.

The Americans (2-1) only need to avoid finishing last in their four-team group to advance to the next round of qualifying, and they look eminently capable of clearing that bar despite the absence of NBA players.

Johnson — a seventime All-Star who briefly returned to the NBA and played in one game for the Boston Celtics in December — is the only big name on the current US roster. Most of the players came from the G League.

Johnson was the only player over 30 on the US roster. “He is as professional a player and person as I’ve ever been around,” coach Jim Boylen said.

“He’s got the experience, and he’s got great spirit about him. When you lead with humility, guys will follow you.”

The Puerto Ricans (1-2), who seemed to have most of the small crowd on their side, led 32-22 in the second quarter after a layup by Ismael Romero, but the US fought its way back. The Americans trailed 44-42 at halftime, then dominated the third quarter.

Jared Harper’s 3-pointer gave the US a 71-58 lead, and then a steal and dunk

by Jordan Bell pushed the lead to 15.

The Americans face Mexico Sunday. The US lost to Mexico 97-88 in November. The other US victory was 95-90 over Cuba.

Matt Ryan of the Grand Rapids Gold scored 15 points, and Justin Wright-Foreman of the Birmingham Squadron added 13.

The World Cup takes place next year from August 25 to September 10 in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.

Teams can qualify directly from the World Cup for the 2024 Olympics.

SOCCER club FC Schalke 04 supporters unfold a giant team’s jersey with the logo of Russian sponsor Gazprom, at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on January 20, 2007. The logo of Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom is being removed from the jerseys of German soccer team Schalke following Moscow’s wide-ranging attack on Ukraine. Schalke said the logo would be replaced by lettering reading “Schalke 04” instead following what it called “recent developments.” A senior Gazprom executive had already quit the supervisory board of Schalke earlier yesterday after being a target of US sanctions.

(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

AP Source: Russia no longer host of Champions League final

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer UEFA will no longer host the Champions League final in St Petersburg after Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine yesterday, the Associated Press has learned.

An extraordinary meeting of the UEFA executive committee will be held today to discuss the geopolitical crisis and when officials are set to confirm taking the May 28 showpiece game out of Russia, a person with knowledge of the process said yesterday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private talks.

UEFA did publicly rebuke Russia and said it was dealing with the “situation with the utmost seriousness and urgency” while confirming the meeting for 0900 GMT today.

“UEFA shares the international community’s significant concern for the security situation developing in Europe and strongly condemns the ongoing Russian military invasion in Ukraine,” the governing body said in a statement.

“We remain resolute in our solidarity with the football community in Ukraine and stand ready to extend our hand to the Ukrainian people.”

As Russia’s threats toward Ukraine had grown through the week, the British government and fan groups had already called for the final not to be play in St Petersburg, where the stadium is sponsored by Russian stateowned energy giant Gazprom.

The company is also the main sponsor of Schalke, but the German second-division club said yesterday that the Gazprom logo was being removed from its jerseys.

TENNIS

FROM PAGE 14

“We did really well today,” was how Bain summed up the boys’ performances.

“The boys really stepped it up today. William McCartney played number two singles and won 6-3, 6-1.

It got a little challenging for him midway in the first set, but he was able to right the ship and closed out the match.

“In the second singles, Jackson Mactaggart, playing at the number one seed, won 7-6 (3) and 6-4. It was a very good match. It was as little up and down. Jackson

A senior Gazprom executive also quit the supervisory board of the Gelsenkirchen-based club after being a target of US sanctions.

Matthias Warnig is CEO of the newly built but never operated Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 pipeline which is a multibilliondollar project of Gazprom and European companies.

Critics said Schalke was used to popularise Gazprom in Germany as it pushed to construct the gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea, which bypassed Ukraine.

Gazprom has been a sponsor since 2006 and provided the cash that fuelled a run to the Champions League semifinals in 2011.

German newspaper Bild this week began covering the Gazprom logos on Schalke jerseys with “Freedom for Ukraine” to protest against Russia’s deepening military intervention in Ukraine.

UEFA’s sponsorship by Gazprom is also under scrutiny with its branding having a significant profile this week at Champions League round of 16 games.

UEFA’s leadership had held off making a call on the Champions League final venue until Russia yesterday started to target cities and military bases in Ukraine with airstrikes and shelling as tanks and troops rolled across the border.

The International Olympic Committee said it “strongly condemns the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian government,” days after the end of the closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

The truce is intended to secure safe passage for athletes during the Games and, in the long term, promote the idea of working toward world peace.

got out to an early start, was up 2-0 and got break to give the guy a little confidence, but he fought him all the way to the end. He was down 5-4, but came back and tied it and was down again, but came back to tie it at 6-6 before he won it in the tie breaker.”

After settling down, Bain said Mactaggart jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead on Garnier and he was able to cruise home the rest of the way. “Nine straight matches, nine straight wins, things are looking good,” Bain said.

“We like our chances tomorrow. We’re going to put it all on the line and try and go for the win.”

It runs until the end of the Paralympics, which are due to open in Beijing on March 4.

The International Paralympic Committee condemned Russia and said it held talks with sports officials in Ukraine, which still plans to compete in Beijing and requires safe passage for its athletes.

“This is a truly horrible situation, and we are greatly concerned about our National Paralympic Committee and Para athletes from Ukraine,” IPC President Andrew Parsons said.

“Our top priority right now is the safety and well-being of the Ukrainian delegation, with whom we are in regular dialogue.”

Russia’s name, flag and anthem are already barred from the March 4-13 Paralympics in Beijing over previous doping disputes.

Its team is due to compete as RPC, short for Russian Paralympic Committee.

Russia has violated the Olympic Truce three times in 14 years, fighting a war with Georgia over the disputed territory of South Ossetia during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and launching a military takeover that annexed the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine after the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics closed.

Focus is turning to Russia hosting other major sports events in the coming months.

In tennis, the men’s professional tour issued a statement announcing that the ATP Challenger tournament that was supposed to be played in Moscow next week “will not take place as scheduled,” because of “concerns over player safety and uncertainty related to international travel following the recent escalation of events between Russia and Ukraine.”

In basketball, Barcelona said its team would not fly to Russia for two games against Russian teams — Zenit St Petersburg and CSKA Moscow — today and Sunday in the Euroleague.

In rugby, European organisers postponed Georgia’s match with Russia on Sunday in Tbilisi in the Rugby Europe Championship.

The women’s game between Spain and Russia on Saturday in Madrid was still on.

FIFA was yet to comment on Russia’s scheduled hosting of a World Cup qualifying playoff semifinal against Poland on March 24 for the right to also host the winner of a meeting between Czech Republic and Sweden for a place in Qatar.

The Polish, Czech and Swedish federations wrote to FIFA saying games should not be played in Russia, citing the “military escalation” and “lower safety.”

Formula One said it was “closely watching the very fluid developments” but made no further comment on whether its race in Sochi would be cancelled in September. Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel said he would not compete at the Russian Grand Prix.

“I will not go,” the German driver said.

“I think it’s wrong to race in the country. I’m sorry for the innocent people that are losing their lives, that are getting killed (for) stupid reasons and a very strange and mad leadership.”

In domestic sport in Ukraine, soccer’s Ukrainian Premier League suspended operations yesterday due to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to impose martial law.

The league has been on a twomonth winter break and was due to resume today. It did not give any planned date to restart.

GIRLS team, shown from left to right, Breann Ferguson, Sarai Clarke and Rachel Thompson.

In the girls’ playoff match, Clarke lost 6-1, 6-3 to Camilia Garcia in 1hr:01m in the first match and Ferguson fell 6-0, 6-2 to Sienna Poma in 1hr:01m as

well in her singles match as the top seed.

However, the combo of Clarke and Ferguson were able to win the doubles 1-0 after Garcia and

Poma didn’t finish the match. “Our number two seed Sarai Clarke played a very good match, but was overpowered by a stronger opponent,” said coach Whitfield. “She got off to a good start in the second set, mixing slices and drop shots, but could not hold on.”

Whitfield, however, said Ferguson encountered some problems early. And Whitfield said Ferguson “never settled in her match, making many unforced errors on her serves and ground strokes.”

The BLTA, headed by president Perry Newton, congratulated Mactaggart, McCartney, Carroll

and coach Bain for their consistency and strong performances in the World Juniors’ pre-qualifier.

The BLTA also noted how pleased they are with the performances of the girls. They noted that the girls’ team distinguished themselves by being the only Caribbean country to advance to the playoffs with three newcomers to this event.

“The boys continue to impress by not giving away any sets to the competition, winning all of their matches. We know both teams will give it all they have to the very end and we are pleased with their efforts.”

COVID-19 TOLL MORE THAN PHYSICAL FOR HARD-HIT HOOPS TEAMS

By ERIC OLSON AP Sports Writer CHARMIN Smith and her players figured they had gone through the worst of the pandemic in 2020-21.

COVID-19 precautions had forced the Cal’s women’s team to hold the first month of practices outdoors on a tennis court with portable baskets. Each player was required to have her own ball and was not allowed to pass it.

Nine games were postponed because of COVID outbreaks, on their team or the opponent, and

they fell five games short of playing the regularly scheduled 18 Pac-12 games. They finished 1-16 overall. “We were really hopeful things would be back to quoteunquote normal and we would be able to experience a season without disruption and get people back healthy,” Smith said. “It hasn’t been the case.”

It hasn’t been the case for a lot of teams. As of midweek in Division I, 420 men’s games and 476 women’s games had been postponed or cancelled because of coronavirus outbreaks, according to Associated Press research,

and COVID-19 has been everpresent even as the sport rolls toward tournament season. The Cal women are among the hardest hit, having had seven Pac-12 games drop off their schedule because there wasn’t enough time left to reschedule them. The Illinois women are playing their final eight regular-season games over 21 days due to rescheduling and will still fall four short of the standard 18 Big Ten games.

The Cal State Bakersfield women will be shorted six of their 18 Big West games. On the men’s side, IUPUI will play only 17

of its 22 Horizon League games and Little Rock will play 14 of its 18 Sun Belt Conference games.

Those three conferences declare missed games no-contests and don’t make them up.

The stops and starts have created a cauldron of emotions for players amid greater concern over the mental health of athletes in general.

There is the disappointment of not being able to play. There’s anger when players see other teams around the country able to play when they can’t. There’s anxiety from the uncertainty of not

knowing when or if they’ll play again. There’s greater pressure to win because the margin for error increases as the number of conference games decreases. There’s frustration for players coming out of a COVID layoff because they’ve lost their conditioning.

There’s added stress academically when rescheduled games come in rapid succession and there’s more missed class time. Coaches said they made themselves available to talk with players who were struggling with the disruptions, and players formed stronger bonds while leaning on each other.

PAGE 12, Friday, February 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Umpire Sears assembles team of candidates ahead of elections Bahamas Softball Federation election of officers next month

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WHILE he waits for the election of officers next month, umpire in chief Thomas Sears has assembled a team of candidates to join him in taking over the reigns of the Bahamas Softball Federation.

Ted Miller has already announced that he has no intentions of seeking another term in office when the elections are scheduled for March 26 at a time and venue yet to be released.

Sears, a retired engineer, is a former player, coach and manager in slowpitch, modified and fast pitch softball and a past treasurer of the Bahamas Government Departmental Softball Association.

As a World Baseball Softball committee level four umpire, who officiated at the Pan American Games, Central American and Caribbean Games and the Junior World Championships, Sears has served as the umpire in chief for the New Providence Softball Association (NPSA), the New Providence Oldtimers Softball Association (NPOTSA) and the BSF. Joining Sears - if successful would be the president at-large - are the following candidates: • Kendal Ferguson, candidate for first vice president at large.

As a retired chief mechanical superintendent and estates officer, Ferguson has been involved as a player, coach and manager in fast pitch, modified and slow-pitch. He was also the chairman of the Exuma Sports Council and vice president of the Masters Softball.

• Desiree Coakley, candidate for second vice president responsible for fast pitch softball.

An insurance underwriter, Coakley was a national team player. After playing and coaching in fast pitch, modified and slow-pitch, Taylor became a certified scorer and then president of the NPSA,

a position she currently holds.

• Hilton Bowleg, candidate for third vice president responsible for modified pitch softball.

Currently a hotel hospitality manager, Bowleg was a player, coach and manager in fast pitch, modified and slow-pitch.

He was also the president of the NPOTSA and was a member of both the BSF men’s national team and the Bahamas Baseball Association’s national team.

• Nacara Curtis, candidate for fourth vice president responsible for slow pitch and junior nationals.

A certified teacher in the public sector, Curtis is also a player, coach and manager in the fast pitch, modified and slow-pitch.

She also serves as a BSF coordinator for the junior national programme and is a BGDSA scorer.

• Gerard Coakley, candidate for fifth vice president responsible for officials and competition.

The Eleuthera businessman is a player and umpire in fast pitch, modified and slow-pitch. A certified level four BSF umpire, Coakley is the umpire in chief for the Eleuthera Softball Association and an International Softball Federation Continental umpire.

• Eriker Albury, candidate for secretary with responsibility for communications.

A career secretary, Albury is a player, coach and a manager in fast pitch and served as the president of the Abaco Softball Association and a BSF assistant secretary.

• Timothy Clarke, candidate for assistant secretary with responsibility for promotions and public relations.

A photojournalist by profession, Clarke is a NPSA player, coach and manager in fast pitch, modified and slow-pitch.

• Keishalyn Moss, candidate for treasurer with responsibility for finance.

MLB

FROM PAGE 14 waiting because management told the union luxury tax usually is among the last items addressed.

Players also want to reduce revenue sharing and expand salary arbitration eligibility, and teams say they will not agree to either proposal. Both sides agreed to meet again today, the fifth straight day of bargaining and the 11th on core economics since the lockout started December 2.

Baseball’s ninth work stoppage, its first since 1995, enters its 86th day Friday.

Players have not accepted Monday as a deadline and have

By KAREL JANICEK Associated Press

Accountant Moss played fast pitch an slow-pitch and served as a coach in the BGDSA. She is the NPSA treasurer.

• Larikah Russell, candidate for assistant treasurer with responsibility for talent development and events.

Versatile Russell is a tennis pro who also plays both fast pitch, slow-pitch softball. She has played on the national teams in softball and tennis.

Although it’s not an elected position, Sears said if successful, he would appoint Celeste Williamson as chaplin. She is a secretary in the public sector and has served as a manager, coach, player and scorer in fast pitch, modified and slow-pitch.

“This team is a dynamic group of individuals who want to see softball go to the next progressive level,” Sears said. “We are prepared to operate outside of the proverbial box to chart a sustainable course for the future of softball.

suggested any missed games could be made up as part of doubleheaders, a method MLB said it will not agree to.

The union told MLB if games are missed and salaries are lost, clubs should not expect players to agree to management’s proposals to expand the postseason and to allow advertisements on uniforms and helmets.

Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has not publicly commented on the talks since February 10 and union head Tony Clark since December 2.

Players modified part of their formula for additional service time for top young players, covering the top 15 in each league by WAR among starting pitchers, relief

“Reformation is not an option but a necessity. We offer ourselves to serve.

Our mission to take softball to that next level may not be easy but I have the utmost confidence in this team to get the job done.”

Sears said the team is all in it together to provide a bold, courageous, progressive, effective, cohesive and focused leadership for softball in this country.

He called it an awesome team.

In addition to the team proposed, if elected, Sears said they will also appoint an administrative team

pitchers and outfielders, down from 20, and the top five at other positions, down from seven.

The union says such a mechanism is needed to prevent teams from holding players in the minor leagues to delay free agency, such as the union claimed in an unsuccessful grievance against the Chicago Cubs over Kris Bryant that was decided by an arbitrator two years ago.

Teams say they won’t agree to such a proposal.

The union also tweaked its complex plan for a lottery to decide the top seven amateur draft picks to prevent a team that receives revenue sharing from picking among the top nine if it finished among the lowest eight winning

that will include directors of development, events, officials and competition, affiliations and statistics.

There will also be appointed an affiliation council, which will include the president or its representative of each affiliate.

Sears also revealed that the objectives of his new board, if elected, would be to provide operational transparency, re-branding of the BSF, constitutional reform, introduction of an affiliation policy, introduction of a national competition policy and establishment of a website.

percentages in each of the two previous seasons or the bottom 12 in each of the previous three. That provision would start in 2024.

New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, Houston pitcher Lance McCullers Jr and Miami infielder Miguel Rojas joined negotiations at Roger Dean Stadium, the idle spring training home of the Marlins and the St Louis Cardinals.

Players who remained from earlier in the week included the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon, the Mets’ Max Scherzer and Francisco Lindor, the Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt, the Chicago Cubs’ Ian Happ, the Brewers’ Brent Suter and free agent Andrew Miller.

NCAA BRAZILIAN SOCCER PLAYERS WHO ARE FROM PAGE 14 TRAPPED IN UKRAINE APPEAL FOR HELP KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Brazilian soccer players at Ukraine’s two biggest clubs issued an appeal to the Brazilian government yesterday, saying they are trapped by the Russian military attack on Ukraine.

A group of players from Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv posted a video together with their families from a hotel where they called for support from the Brazilian authorities, joined by Uruguayan player Carlos de Pena of Dynamo. They said the borders were closed and fuel supplies had run out.

“We are really desperate. We are going through chaos,” Shakhtar defender Marlon Santos wrote on

Instagram. “We have the support from our club.

But the desperation is agonising. We wait for the support from our country.

We speak in the name of all the Brazilians in Ukraine.”

Brazil and Paris SaintGermain striker Neymar reposted the video on his Instagram account, and added he is praying for his countrymen in Ukraine.

Similar messages were posted by Brazilian players living elsewhere in Ukraine, including by forward Marlyson and two teammates from Metalist 1925 in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, near the Russian border, and three players from Zorya Luhansk, a club based

ATALANTA, SEVILLA ADVANCE IN EUROPA LEAGUE

in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia.

Leonardo Gorgulho, the communications director of Brazil’s foreign ministry, said at a news conference in capital Brasilia that Brazilians living in eastern Ukraine should leave by their own means. He said neither Brazil nor other countries can lead evacuation operations at the moment.

Gorgulho also advised Brazilians in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv to remain in the city.

The Ukrainian league was suspended indefinitely yesterday after martial law was declared in Ukraine.

Ukrainian clubs have long recruited Brazilian

players to boost their performance on the field and to make a profit in the transfer market. Up-andcoming Brazilian players often see the Ukrainian league as a shop window to show off their skills to clubs in Europe’s biggest leagues, especially if they play for Champions League regulars Shakhtar and Dynamo.

Shakhtar lists 11 Brazilian players in its first-team squad and another, Junior Moraes, who is a naturalised Ukrainian citizen.

Shakhtar and Zorya were both founded in cities in eastern Ukraine but haven’t been able to play there since Russia-backed separatists took over their home cities in 2014.

California and 11 in a win over Gannon. Following the regular season finale, it will be a quick turnaround for the opening of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament on February 28. McFall is one of four players averaging double figure scoring for the 17-10 Slippery Rock.

In his first year with the programme, he is averaging 13.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while being tied for the team lead with 27 blocks.

Lathaniel Bastian and Angelo State Rams close out their season on February 26 against Texas-Tyler.

Bastian recently had 19 points and eight rebounds off the bench in just 19 minutes of a 91-76 win over Oklahoma Christian.

UKRAINE midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi scored a couple of goals yesterday to lead Atalanta into the round of 16 in the Europa League on a day the European continent was rocked

by Russia’s assault on Ukraine.

Malinovskyi netted twice in a two-minute span in the second half for a 3-0 win over Olympiakos in the second leg of one of eight playoffs between third-place finishers in the Champions League groups and Europa League group runners-up.

Atalanta advanced 5-1 on aggregate.

Ten-man Sevilla eliminated Dinamo Zagreb 3-2 on aggregate, Porto knocked out Lazio 4-3 on aggregate and Leipzig won 3-1 at Real Sociedad to reach the next round 5-3 on aggregate.

In the biggest game of the night, Napoli hosted Barcelona later yesterday after the two drew 1-1 in the first leg.

In the playoff matches to reach the last 16 of the inaugural Europa Conference League, Leicester advanced with a 7-2 aggregate victory over Denmark’s Randers.

The other biggest teams in the playoff round, Marseille and PSV Eindhoven, also advanced while Norwegian upstart Bodø/Glimt knocked out Scottish giant Celtic.

EUROPA LEAGUE Willi Orbán and Andrés scored to give Leipzig a 2-0 lead and Emil Forsberg added the third from the penalty spot after Real Sociedad pulled one back through Martin Zubimendi.

Lazio striker Ciro Immobile returned from injury to score the opening goal in the 19th with a low shot past goalkeeper Diogo Costa, a minute after he had a goal disallowed due to offside.

But Porto forward Mehdi Taremi equalised from the spot and Matheus Uribe gave the Portuguese team a 2-1 lead at Stadio Olimpico in the 68th. Lazio substitute Danilo Cataldi’s goal in stoppage time came too late.

Mislav Oršic scored the lone goal for Dinamo from the penalty spot in Zagreb for a 1-0 victory over Sevilla.

EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE Midfielder James Maddison spearheaded Leicester’s dominant display at Randers with two second-half goals within four minutes and Harvey Barnes also scored with a curling rightfoot attempt from inside the box on the way to Leicester’s 3-1 victory on the night.

After winning the first leg 3-1 in Glasgow, Bodø/Glimt dominated again at home with another 2-0 victory even though the Norwegian champions are between domestic seasons.

PSV held Maccabi TelAviv 1-1 to advance 2-1 on aggregate while Marseille won 3-0 away at Qarabag to complete a 6-1 rout.

The Rams are currently 18-8, 8-6 in the Lone Star Conference.

Bastian is fourth on the team in scoring at 11.6 points per game while leading in both rebounding at 8.1 boards per game and blocked shots at 1.5 per game.

The Lone Star Conference tournament takes place March 1-6 and the NCAA Division II South Central Regionals take place March 12-15.

Malik Joseph, Sherman Robinson and Newberry College conclude the season Saturday against Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Joseph recently posted double figures for the second time this season with 15 points off the bench in a 76-64 win over Catawba College.

The South Atlantic Conference tournament begins March 2.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, February 25, 2022, PAGE 13

NEW NO 1 MEDVEDEV ADVANCES TO MEXICO TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS PRIMARY and high school golfers pose with officials from Bahamas Golf Federation, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culmure and Education.

Second annual National Schools Golf Championships March 21-25

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AFTER the success of its inaugural event last year, the Bahamas Golf Federation is eager to get the second annual National School Golf Championships underway next month at the BGF’s golf club at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

Plans were unveiled by the BGF yesterday in the foyer of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. They were joined by Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowle, Zane Lightbourne, minister of state in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Bahamas Olympic Committee president Romell Knowles.

Some of the players from both the primary and high schools, both public and private, were on hand to participate in the ceremony as they prepare for this year’s tournament, scheduled for March 21-25 at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

One of them, Zachary Joseph, an 11-year-old sixth grader at Claridge Primary, had a chance to speak and he thanked Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy for introducing him to golf.

BGF vice president Anthony Hinsey, who served as the master of ceremonies, said Joseph is the second best player in his age group and they’re looking forward to some great things from him.

Georgette Rolle-Harris, the chairman of the Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy who is one of the organisers of the tournament, revealed that the private primary boys and

girls teams will play on March 21, followed by the public primary boys and girls on March 22.

Each day, the top three schools and the best individual players will advance to the championships scheduled to be played on Friday, March 26.

The public junior and senior high schools will compete on Wednesday, March 23 when the top three schools and individual leaders will advance to Friday’s final. And on Thursday, March 24, the private high schools will compete to determine who moves on to the finals on the final day of competition.

“Last year, I think we had just over 130 students advance to the finals,” Rolle-Harris said. “Our goal this year is to max out to 150 players.”

To ensure that they get the maximum performances out of the players, Rolle-Harris said the nine-hole golf course will be designed for the players to play from distances that are suitable to their ranges.

Bowleg, having also graduated from Claridge Primary, said his ministry joined hands with the Ministry of Education in assisting the BGF in the hard work in putting on the second annual tournament.

“The Bahamas Golf Federation is one of the associations who are leading the charge in finding the diamonds in the rough,” he stated.

“There is no other sport in the country where they are composed of all age groups.

“This is the first national all-age competition and I’m very impressed with the

GEORGETTE ROLLE-HARRIS, far right, and golfers tee off yesterday ahead of the Bahamas Golf Federation’s 2nd annual National School Golf Championships next month. number of inner-city kids involved, considering that this is an expensive sport.

So to get the inner-city kids involved shows that golf is going places and we’re looking forward to seeing some future Olympians very soon.”

Lightbourne, in recognising all of the players in attendance, said this is what the future looks like and he’s proud to be a part of it.

He said he never had the opportunity to play the sport, but with the potential and opportunities available to the children, the BGF has to be commended to put on this tournament, especially in the coronavirus pandemic that is still prevalent in the country.

“We know that in order to develop a strong presence in the sport, you have to begin with the foundation and the foundation and growth of every country is their youth,” he said. “This is an awesome opportunity for our youth.”

If this event was never implemented, Lightbourne said the country would not have known or seen the potential that is available, considering the fact that many of the

players never picked up a golf club in their lives.

“To have 200 players participate in a golf tournament is awesome,” he added. “We have to give our children more opportunities and we have to diversify sports in our country. Get into something new and go bold with it.”

Lightbourne promised that his ministry will continue to support the BGF and they will be looking at ways that they can get the sport inclusive into the curriculum in the school system.

Knowles called it a “red letter day” as it pertains to high school sports as he commended the BGF and both ministries for their joint venture in getting so many youth, especially out of the grassroot areas, to participate in golf.

While he said the second event is momentous, he noted that with so many social issues that the young men and women are experiencing today, it’s refreshing to see the positive changes being made and he pledged the full sport of the BOC in their future endeavours.

Clara Storr, who heads the primary school division at the Ministry

of Education, said the second annual tournament now represents a milestone and that only means that the best is yet to come.

She noted in particular that they entered 15 schools into the tournament and with only 10 weeks of preparation, the public primary schools dominated with competitors in the top four rankings.

Evon Wisdom, director of sports in the Ministry of Education, said he was surprised to see that there were about 1,000 persons who came through the programme.

And Wisdom said he’s looking forward to another stellar event this year.

Gina Gonzalez-Rolle, the BGF’s chairman of the Junior Gold programme, thanked Tim Munnings, the director of sports, Marcellus Taylor, the director of education and Rupert Gardiner of the Ministry of Education, for their assistance in pulling off the initial tournament last year.

“On March 21 to March 25, we will be hosting our second annual National Schools Golf Championships and believe me, that will be an event like you’ve never seen before,” Gonzalez-Rolle said.

She noted that Bahamas Waste will be providing the reciprocals for persons to use to sanitise once they arrive at the facilities and everyone will have to wear their masks.

She noted, however, that there won’t be any spectators allowed and that the players will be separated when they show up to play in an effort to avoid overcrowding.

SURPRISE: KURT KITAYAMA SHOOTS 64 TO LEAD HONDA CLASSIC

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida (AP) — Kurt Kitayama came into the Honda Classic with 25 previous appearances on the PGA Tour, most of them ending by missing the cut.

He’s on track to do a bit better this week in the Honda Classic.

Kitayama — ranked No. 289 in the world — was nearly flawless at PGA National yesterday, shooting a 6-under 64 to take a one-shot lead over Daniel Berger, Chris Kirk and Rory Sabbatini.

It was Kitayama’s best score in 69 rounds on the PGA Tour, fuelled by a career-best run of four consecutive birdies on his second nine.

And he qualifies as a surprise leader, considering even he didn’t expect a start like this.

“Maybe not a start like that, but I felt like I’ve been playing well, and I’ve started to figure out my putting to kind of find this kind of round,” said Kitayama, a California native and former UNLV player who has missed cuts 64 percent of the time — 16 out of 25 — in tour events.

Berger also was bogeyfree, and missed an 8-foot birdie try on the par-5 18th to settle for 65.

Peter Uihlein and Danny Willett were among the group at 67.

Brooks Koepka, a Palm Beach County native

basically playing a home game this week, was in a group at 68.

And Joaquin Niemann, the Genesis last week at Riviera in Los Angeles, was 4 under through 12 before giving it all back and settling for an even-par 70.

“I didn’t do anything to really deserve to be 4 or 5 under,” Koepka said.

“That’s a great score here.

Just kind of ho-hummed it around.”

After several days of offcourse drama coming from Phil Mickelson’s words, Greg Norman’s wants and the PGA Tour going on the offensive, there may have been hope that on-course events would return to the forefront.

Norman decided he wanted otherwise.

Norman — who runs LIV Golf Investments, the group financed mainly by the Saudi Arabia sovereign wealth fund chaired

by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — offered the latest twist by releasing a letter he sent to PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.

Norman accused Monahan of “bullying and intimidating” players into staying on the tour and spurning the proposed super league Norman has been working on with the Saudis.

He says players want to play.

It’s unclear who does; many top players in recent days have insisted otherwise, and Rory McIlroy

KURT Kitayama watches after hitting his tee shot on the ninth hole during the first round of the Honda Classic golf tournament yesterday in Palm Beach Gardens.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) went as far as to say the notion was “dead in the water.”

“I know for a fact that many PGA players were and still are interested in playing for a new league, in addition to playing for the Tour,” Norman wrote to Monahan. “What is wrong with that?”

Monahan said this week that players who sign up for a Saudi golf league will lose their PGA Tour

membership and should not expect to get it back.

In other news, actual golf was played.

Kitayama started on the back nine, opened with three consecutive birdies, then had the run of four consecutive birdies — capped by rolling in a 20-footer from just off the green on the par-4 6th, his 15th hole of the day.

“Conditions of the course are perfect,”

Kitayama said. “It’s just really tough.”

He made it look easy. So did Sabbatini and Berger.

Sabbatini, the 2011 Honda winner, had a bogey-free round of 65 with four birdies on the back nine.

It was the first time Sabbatini played PGA National as a pro without making a single bogey.

“I’m very well aware of it,” Sabbatini said.

Berger — whose back has been iffy in recent weeks — was 5 under through 11, then finished with seven consecutive pars.

“It’s nice to get off to a good start,” said Berger, who grew up playing junior golf at PGA National.

Neither Kitayama nor Sabbatini is a bomber; Kitayama entered the week tied for 74th in driving distance on tour, Sabbatini tied for 172nd.

That makes PGA National to their liking, considering it’s not a course that gets overpowered.

“I’m getting to that point in my game where I think I’ve gotten past where I feel like, I hate to say it, truly competitive out here,” the 45-year-old Sabbatini said.

“There’s too many guys out here that have much more firepower, so I’ve just got to kind of pick and choose my way around the golf course.

“To me, it’s become more of a chess game and less about throwing some darts out there.”

ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — A few hours after clinching top spot in the ATP rankings, top-seeded Daniil Medvedev eased into the Mexican Open semifinals yesterday with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Yoshihito Nishioka.

Medvedev moved to No. 1 in the rankings earlier in the day after Novak Djokovic lost to Jiri Vesely at Dubai.

The Russian player will face either Rafael Nadal or Tommy Paul in the semis in the hard-court tournament.

Medvedev lost to Nadal in the Australian Open final in an epic five-set match where the Spaniard rallied after losing the first two sets to win a record 21st Grand Slam singles title.

ZVEREV FINED $40K, LOSES PRIZE MONEY, POINTS FOR OUTBURST ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Alexander Zverev was fined $40,000 by the men’s professional tennis tour and will forfeit more than $30,000 in prize money and all rankings points from the Mexican Open after hitting the chair umpire’s stand with his racket following a loss in doubles.

In addition to those penalties, the ATP announced yesterday it would undertake “a further review of the incident.”

Zverev was the 2020 U.S. Open runner-up. He is currently ranked No. 3 and was the defending singles champion in Acapulco.

The 24-year-old German was kicked out of the tournament after yelling and cursing at official Alessandro Germani and violently striking the umpire’s chair no fewer than four times.

Zverev and partner Marcelo Melo had just lost a doubles match to Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara. Just before the match ended, Germani gave Zverev a code violation for yelling and swearing while arguing about a shot that was ruled in, setting up match point.

The ATP said Zverev was fined $20,000 each for verbal abuse and unsportsmanlike conduct, the maximum penalty for each violation. He loses his full prize money for singles and doubles of $31,570 and all rankings points earned at the tournament.

AUS

FROM PAGE 14 Gibson is ranked in the top 10 in the AUS in points scored (173, second), points per game (19.2, fifth), field goals made (66, second), three-pointers made (third, 3rd), total rebounds (71, third), rebounds per game (7.9, sixth), blocks (10, third), minutes (340, first) and minutes per game (37.8, first).

Diangelo Woodside and the Cape Breton Capers resumed the season with a pair of wins over the Acadia Axemen. After finishing with just three points and three rebounds in an 81-73 win in game one, Woodside had nine points and eight rebounds in an 89-83 game two win.

Woodside is averaging 5.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game for the 5-6 Capers.

TO ADVERTISE TODAY IN THE TRIBUNE CALL @ 502-2394

SPORTS PAGE 14

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2022

SCHOOL GOLF, Page 13

Undefeated, so far

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

C

oach Bradley Bain liked what he saw from his undefeated boys team at the 2022 North, Central American and Caribbean Under-14 PreQualifying World Junior Tennis tournament in El Salvador.

In their playoff match yesterday against Costa Rica, the team of William McCartney, Jackson Mactaggart and Jerald Carroll prevailed with a 3-0 win to remain undefeated in the week-long tourney.

The girls’ team, coached

by Paula Whitfield and comprising of Sarai Clarke, Breann Ferguson and Rachel Thompson, were not as fortunate as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to host El Salvador.

While the boys will prepare to play the Dominican Republic in the semi-finals today and a chance to advance to the championship round on Saturday, the girls will conclude their play in the tournament either in fifth or sixth place depending on the outcome of their match today.

McCartney won the first boys’ single 6-3, 6-1 over Alberto Mora in one hour and 22 minutes and Mactaggart won the second singles 7-6 (3), 6-4 over Julian Garnier in one hour and 48 minutes.

In doubles, McCartney and Carroll took 1hr:06m to post a 6-1, 6-4 win over Mora and Juan Ignacio Bogantes.

SEE PAGE 11

MLB FOUR DAYS FROM DEADLINE TO CANCEL Bahamas’ under-14 boys turning GAMES AND heads at North, Central America and SHORTEN Caribbean pre-qualifying tournament SEASON

for World Junior Tennis competition

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer JUPITER, Florida (AP) — Another negotiating session produced only minor movement and no proposals on big-money issues, leaving Major League Baseball four days from management’s Monday night deadline for a deal to salvage opening day and a 162-game season.

Both sides appeared yesterday to be in a youmake-the-next-move staredown on central economic issues of the lockout, such as luxury tax thresholds and rates, the minimum salary and the proposed bonus pool for pre-arbitration players.

Given those stances, it appeared the earliest movement on the main issues would be in the hours before management says it will carry through on its threat to start cancelling games and costing players salary.

The union came away with the impression that management said it was out of ideas until players offer new proposals on key issues.

Clubs say the union hasn’t altered its luxury tax plan since November, and players say they are

WINNING WAYS - Shown, from left to right, are Team Bahamas’ boys team of Jackson Mactaggaert, William McCartney and Jerald Carroll.

SEE PAGE 12

NBA-leading Suns roll past Thunder without Paul OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Devin Booker had 25 points, 12 assists and a career-high six steals to help the NBA-leading Phoenix Suns beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 124-104 last night.

Booker played point guard with All-Star Chris Paul out with a fractured right thumb. Booker finished with a season-high assist total.

Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges each added 21 points for the Suns. They have won eight straight and 19 of 20 to improve to 49-10.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 32 points in his return after missing 10 games because of a sprained right ankle.

Josh Giddey added 15

points, nine rebounds and six assists.

BULLS 112, HAWKS 108 CHICAGO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 37 points while extending an NBA-record streak and Eastern Conference-leading Chicago squeezed by Atlanta.

DeRozan pushed mark of scoring at least 35 points while shooting 50 percent or better to eight games.

The five-time All-Star made 15 of 21 shots and had five points in the final minute, helping the Bulls pull out their sixth straight victory.

DeRozan also made it nine games in a row with 30 points or more, the longest such streak by a Bulls player since Michael Jordan did it in 10 straight from

SUNS guard Devin Booker drives around Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) in the second half last night in Oklahoma City.

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) December 25, 1990, to Jan- Atlanta with a season-high uary 14, 1991.

27 points. Danilo Gallinari Zach LaVine scored 20 scored 26 points. points after missing the TIMBERWOLVES 119, final three games prior to GRIZZLIES 114 the All-Star break because MINNEAPOLIS (AP) of his ailing left knee. — D’Angelo Russell had Bogdan Bogdanovic led 23 of his 37 points in the

fourth quarter, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:23 left, to lead Minnesota past Memphis.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 11 rebounds and Malik Beasley had 17 points on 5-for-7 shooting from 3-point range for the Timberwolves.

Ziaire Williams and Jaren Jackson Jr each scored 21 points for Memphis. Ja Morant had 20 on 7-for-25 shooting.

CELTICS 129, NETS 106 NEW YORK (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and Boston returned from the All-Star break with its second romp in Brooklyn this month.

Jaylen Brown added 18 points and Marcus Smart had 15. The Celtics picked

up where they left off before the break, when they won nine of their final 10 games. One of those was a 126-91 victory in Brooklyn on February 8. Seth Curry scored 22 points for the Nets. They have lost 13 of 15.

PISTONS 106, CAVALIERS 103 DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham hit four free throws in the final 46 seconds to help Detroit beat Cleveland.

Hamidou Diallo led Detroit with 21 points and Cunningham added 17.

Lauri Markkanen scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth for Cleveland.

The Cavaliers were without guards Darius Garland (back) and Caris LeVert (foot)

NCAA BASKETBALL SEASONS WIND DOWN BAHAMIAN STUDENTS RETURN TO AUS BASKETBALL IN CANADA

By RENALDO DORSETT and 1.3 Tribune Sports Reporter blocks rdorsett@tribunemedia.net per game.

He shot THE NCAA Divi- 58 persion II season is near its cent from conclusion and several the field Bahamian student ath- and also letes look to close out finished the regular seasons on with five a strong note as their double MCCOY teams prepare for the doubles postseason. on the year.

Malachi McCoy and As a freshman he averthe Benedict College aged 7.3 points and 4.7 Tigers closed out the reg- rebounds per game and ular season with a 71-59 last year in the COVIDwin over Allen Univer- shortened season he sity on February 22 at the averaged just 5.9 points Mays Arena in Columbia, and 4.3 rebounds per South Carolina. game.

McCoy finished with 13 The Tigers, now 20-6 points. On the season, the on the season, will look 6’7” junior forward aver- ahead to SIAC Chamaged career highs across pionship Tournament the board at 10.7 points, a in Rock Hill, South team leading 8.7 rebounds Carolina.

Benedict will be the second seed in the SIAC East Division and will have a bye until the quarterfinals and will play 2:15 pm March 3 against an opponent to be determined.

The regular season will conclude this weekend for several others.

Jonathan McFall and Slippery Rock are currently in the midst of a six-game winning streak and look to head into the postseason with a win over No.17 ranked Mercyhurst University.

In win number six, McFall finished with 14 points in a 79-72 win over Edinboro University. He also scored 15 in last week’s win over

SEE PAGE 12

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN student athletes returned to the court in Canada’s Atlantic University Sport (AUS) basketball following a winter break and a suspended season due to COVID-19 protocol health restrictions.

Shamar Burrows and the Dalhousie Tigers picked up where they left off with a No.6 spot in the national rankings.

The Tigers improved to 8-2 with an 86-60 win over the Acadia Axemen on February 19 at the Homburg Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to increase their lead in the standings of the AUS.

Burrows shot 6-7 from the field to finish with 12 points, four rebounds and four assists.

The first game in what was BURROWS expected to be a double header was postponed due to a windstorm and power outage.

Qyemah Gibson remained sidelined for the Huskies. It was the first time Saint Mary’s hosted the ‘Battle of Halifax’ in more than two years, with the Tigers last visiting the Huskies on January 22, 2020. The Tigers will next hit the road to take on

the UPEI Panthers (6-4) in a pair of games next weekend.

The Huskies record dropped to 5-5 on the season. They are slated to host the 1-8 Acadia Axemen 8pm tonight at home and will travel to Acadia on Sunday for the second half of a weekend home and home series.

On the season, Burrows has averaged 13 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game on 51 percent shooting from the field and 67 percent shooting from three-point range.

Prior to the break, Gibson won Male Athlete of the Week for the St Mary’s Huskies for the week of November 22-28.

SEE PAGE 13